We cause our own feelings. That is not to say that an event cannot bring us great joy. It is our choice to let a wonderful time or happening into our hearts and to react with happiness. So, too, is it our choice to react to others with anger. One of the hardest lessons in life for me has been building the character to keep cool and not let someone else push my buttons. That is a discipline. One has to practice it and nurture it, in other words, in the same sense an athlete gets good at his sport by hard work; a person has to want to be in control.

Not only do we cause our own feelings, others are a mirror to us. Think about what you see coming back to you from those around you. Good or bad, it is a reflection of what you are giving them. Are you living with a lot of tension in your household? Can you talk honestly about where that tension is coming from? Stop and think. Recognizing this mirror of feelings can be a real eye-opener. This philosophy is the basis of Karma, The Secret, and many other disciplines that come down to, “What you give ( put out there, practice, focus on, etc.) is what you get.” When you get up tomorrow morning and look in the mirror, practice smiling.

Albert Schweitzer had a great thought that I am going to paraphrase here: We owe deep thanks to those who have rekindled our inner light. It happens to all of us, we get down and out at some point in our lives, even the great minds do. Maybe we’ve realized we are getting older or are never going to achieve super stardom. Then along comes someone, maybe a neighbor, an old classmate, a grand child who says some funny, dear thing that sparks a giggle or a fond memory. We climb back up and out of that melancholic hole we slipped down into and off we go again. We can easily pay it forward by kindling the light for someone else, but we can also remember to thank the person who helped us. I say bake them cookies! But then, I never met a cookie I didn’t like, however, I must warn you, too many cookies will also cause a bad reflection in the mirror! That’s another topic for another day. Have a good week.

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About Barbara K Tyner

A graduate of UCCS with a degree in English Lit., Barbara writes Children's Literature as well as mainstream fiction. Her popular children's series, The Badger Books, is co-authored with Barbara's daughter, Laura. Her first novel, "Wait Here, Wait There" deals with grief and Alzheimer's. Her second novel, Rhyaden, a middle grade fantasy released Nov. 2018. Gardening, exploring National Parks, Kayaking, hiking, and snow-shoeing top her list of favorite hobbies.